Top Money-Saving Thanksgiving Tips

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If you need or want to save money this Thanksgiving, you are not alone. With food and turkey prices dramatically increasing, more families want to make sure the apply all the money-saving Thanksgiving tips they can get.

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays, but when you’re hosting a big dinner for your family and friends, it puts to the test your best money-saving skills. All that delicious food and beautiful decor can make a serious dent in your budget. The good news is that it doesn’t have to. It takes a bit of planning and you might need to shop around for deals, but it’s worth it.

Best Money-Saving Tips for Thanksgiving

Here are my top money-saving hacks for Thanksgiving:

1. Keep the decor simple. Use candles, pine cones and small pumpkins to decorate your table. Reuse what you have at home already but rearrange it differently.
2. Make your own centerpieces. Your kids can help you make these beautiful (and fun!) corncobs or pumpkins using recycled toilet paper rolls. They can also make place cards with Dollar Store items.
3. Know your family’s tastes and adjust portions. Avoid anything you know for sure they won’t eat, to minimize leftovers. Also, you don’t need to cook for a gigantic crowd if you will have a small group of loved ones attending your dinner. Adjust recipes so you have less waste, too.
4. Avoid fresh turkey. It’s more expensive and time-consuming to prepare. In my case, I will be serving sliced turkey breast because that’s what my kids actually eat. The whole turkey looks nicer, but I would rather cook what everybody enjoys. Plus, frozen turkey breast is much less expensive! 
5. If money is really tight, swap turkey for chicken. This is a really smart way to save money, since a fresh turkey can be 10 times more expensive than a whole chicken. Many children even prefer chicken to turkey, so don’t feel guilty about the swap. 
6. Make a list of what you really need and stick to it. This means resisting temptation when you go to the store. You can use my free meal planner, too.
7. Look for BOGO (buy one, get one) deals, and shop around.  You might need to make a few stops but your wallet will thank you.
8. Prefer fruits and vegetables that are in season. Prices are lower and they are more flavorful.
9. Serve fruit-infused water instead of soda. That way you’ll avoid spending money on soft drinks, and you’ll give your family a healthier option. Make your own healthy holiday drink by adding orange slices and cinnamon sticks to filtered water.
10. Use technology! Take advantage of coupons and money-saving apps on your smartphone. The savings add up pretty quickly. Some stores, like Target, also offer extra discounts on their app. Try apps like Flipp or Ibotta to also increase your savings.

What are your favorite money-saving tips? If you’re looking for more Thanksgiving ideas, check out my Pinterest board.

More Thanksgiving tips and recipes

• Beautiful Thanksgiving place cards DIY
• 3 Beautiful Ideas for Your Thanksgiving Table
• 6 Delicious Ideas To Enjoy Turkey Leftovers

Please share!